Alexandre Pato’s spectacular debut goal for Brazil has brought comparisons with Pele and Ronaldo, gushing praise and endless television replays – everything that coach Dunga has been trying to avoid.Just as he did as a player, Dunga has made hard work and team spirit his watchwords and tried to keep celebrity culture out of the national team.
The days when celebrities would turn up at the Brazil training camp in Teresopolis to be photographed with the likes of Ronaldo and Ronaldinho have been pushed aside as Dunga attempts to prevent any particular player getting more attention than his team mates.
When asked about Kaka’s spectacular goals against Ecuador and Peru last year, Dunga dodged the questions and instead heaped praise on the midfield markers Josue and Mineiro.Dunga last year resisted pressure to give Pato an early international debut, saying that the player was still not experienced.
When he finally relented in Wednesday night’s friendly against Sweden and brought Pato on as a second-half substitute, the AC Milan player needed only 12 minutes to score his first goal for his country.The 18-year-old chased Rami Shaaban towards the right touchline as the substitute goalkeeper looked set for an easy clearance and contrived to block the ball, swivel and send an exquisite left-footed lob into the unguarded net.
This afternoon, the goal – the only high point of an otherwise drab game – was still being replayed on Brazilian television.The Folha de Sao Paulo began the comparisons with past greats by pointing out that both Pele and Ronaldo had taken longer to score their first international goals.According to the Folha, Pele scored 32 minutes into his debut against Argentina in 1957 while Ronaldo needed 51 minutes’ play to hit the target, the goal coming against Iceland in 1994.Pato’s goal brought more praise from Sweden coach Lars Lagerback than Dunga himself.
In typical style, Dunga praised Pato more for closing down Shaaban than for the quick thinking and clinical efficiency of his lob.“He has technical quality, but I liked how he went to put the goalkeeper in difficulty,” Dunga said. “He has everything to be a crack (player), but let’s see (how good he is) after 40 games.
”Fortunately for Dunga, the shy Pato does not seem the type to get carried away.His brief interview to Brazilian television made even the notoriously non-committal comments of Ronaldinho look outspoken and hard-hitting in comparison.“It’s always nice to get off to a good start,” he said, before repeatedly thanking his family for their support.